By HFT Staff

Governor Kathy Hochul and Dr. Philip Ozuah, President and CEO of Montefiore Einstein, were joined by New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan, New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, New York State Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, City Councilwoman-elect Shirley Aldebol and others to announce the completion of Montefiore Einstein's 21-bed inpatient pediatric mental health center in the Bronx.  

The development of Montefiore Einstein Center for Children's Mental Health of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM) was supported by funding from the Office of Mental Health (OMH) as part of the Governor's pledge to increase the number of inpatient psychiatric beds in the State, as well as funds secured by Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Michael Benedetto from the State Assembly. The project was also made possible by generous philanthropic support from a private donor. The project reflects a strong commitment from New York state leaders to expand youth mental health services. 

Nearly 160 million people in the U.S. — including all children in the Bronx — live in areas that have been federally designated as significantly lacking mental health professionals and youth ER visits for mental health have increased by more than 40 percent in recent years. The new inpatient center is designed to provide best-in-class intensive treatment for youth ages five to 17 years-old with serious behavioral health conditions, including severe depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, other acute psychiatric needs and high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. With mostly private rooms, the center was planned with a focus on patients and their families and developed with their direct input. 

The Montefiore Einstein Center for Children's Mental Health of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Einstein is scheduled to open to patients on December 15.